Kals Stout | Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri AB

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Testing this beer well chilled, poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Pouring the beer into the glass gives creates a very thin foamy head that disappears quickly. Twirling the glass a bit creates a new thin foamy head that quickly disappears as well. This telling that there are lots of small carbonation bubbles going on in here. The color is very, very, deep brown, you could say black until you're holding this beer against a light, telling you it's true color.

S: A fresh, yet deep malty smell with chocolate and coffee tones all over the place. Since the label states there should be both german and american hops in here that are up for a surprise, i guess i have to wait for them until tasting it - there are no hoppy tones to be found in the smell.

T: Just as the smell will hint you, the taste is very fresh and dry, loaded with malty tones, good roasted feel with that coffee and chocolate hitting you afterwards. I'm still looking for that hoppy tones the label is stating, and i guess there are som hoppy bitterness going on in the end leaving me wanna look for more in another zip.

M: All the small carbonation bubbles are doing a great performance here together with the nice dry and small hoppy bitterness.

O: A truly great stout, only on a 5% ABV (!) that is loaded of rich and roasted malty tones of chocolate and coffee. Together with all the small carbonation going on this gives you a great balanced taste and moutfeel leaving you wanting more... here there is a great advantage for that low 5% ABV making it possible for you to have a few extra!

Bottle served into a Westvleteren goblet in Stockholm at Skavsta airport. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of soft brilliant cream, great thickness, and decent retention. Colour is a solid black.

Sm: Chocolate, toffee, and caramel. Aroma is rather strong.

T: The notes from the nose are all present: chocolate, toffee, and caramel. The climax is especially powerful, leading into the nice finish. Built and balanced very well. Nothing unique, but it's complex enough.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Thick enough. Complementary of the flavours.

Dr: Average ABV and decent quality come at a high price. Better beers are available for far less. That said, I did enjoy it. It's a well made beer worth a go for any fan of the style.

Appearance & Aroma: It was dark black in color and I couldn’t see much through it when I held it up to the light. There was a thin soapy bubble-like head and a black patent-like aroma with black licorice and some coffee aromas as well.

Taste & Feel: The body was light-medium and there was a crisp mouthfeel from the carbonation in it. There was a black patent malt and coffee-like bitterness with a bit of cocoa in the middle. The finish was rather watery, with a bit of the black malt bitterness.

Food Pairing: With the black malt and coffee-like bitterness, I would probably pair this with a dessert, such as coffee or spice cake. Also, with a little bit of cocoa mixed with the coffee flavors, it might also go well with chocolate desserts as well.

Overall Impression: I was looking forward to trying an international beer, to see what flavors were like from Sweden. I was a bit surprised by the strength of the black malt bitterness. It wasn’t over the top, but it was slightly too much for me. I was also surprised by the watery finish, especially since this was an oatmeal stout. Overall, it’s not a terrible beer, but I was a bit disappointed with the taste.

Reading the label, I was thrilled about the fact that a Gotheburg based brewery had created an oatmeal stout. (It'snot that common in Sweden, even when looking at the imported brands.) However, I was very disappointed from the very beginning. A poor appearance, all though black in its color, it lacked that thick foam. The smell resembled an ale, still there was a notion of burnt wood. Other than that I found it hard to make out any other distinct smells.

Trying not to think about the poor appearance and the poor smell, I took my first zip of the beer. Sadly I was once again quite disappointed. The taste is somewhat balanced with a hint of almond. Still, the body of the beer resembles that of a pilsner rather than that one of a stout. Sure, there are different stouts by I stand by my judgement on this one.

Maybe I had my hopes up too high on this one, but I am utterly disappointed.

Pours pretty dark, but virtually no head. Flavor is appropriately hearty for the style. A grain bitterness hit's the tip of the tongue and a slightly chocolate tone comes slightly later on. Nicely robust and hearty. You've got to love the oatmeal stouts. And if you get a chance to try this one, I think you'll like it. Better as it warms, also.

The colour is black; the two finger firm head is uneven, airy and beige.

The smell is quite strong. Sour-bitter hops with some citric notes. Some sweet heavily roasted malty flavours. Coffee. A light touch of alcohol.

The taste is surprisingly fresh and drinkable for being a stout, maybe due to the citric hoppy flavours. Fruity notes of green apples, pineapples, apricots and a hint of plums. Heavily (but not heavy) roasted malt with some barely noticeable smoked flavours and a mild note of liquorice toffee. Some bitterness, the body is on the lower side of medium. The aftertaste is dominated by the roasted malt (with some burned hints), oat porridge, matured fruits and some spicy flavours of black pepper and nutmeg.

The carbonation is quite strong, but it suites the fresh flavours well. The liquid is smooth.

Difficult to see colors well in the rather dim lighting, but the drink seems black.
Big beige creamy head, lasting.
Initial citrus hoppy scent and some burnt aroma, even before I've removed the protecting head.
Burnt flavor with some acid, but not much, long lingering chocolate aftertaste. Citrus hops in the taste after a few sips. Also a bit of the American hops in the aftertaste.
Medium bitterness and mouthfeel.